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BAPTISM IS the entry Sacrament into the life of God's people. Whether we are a child or an adult, God welcomes us in a special way to another dimension of our relationship with God and with others.
IN HOLY BAPTISM... God receives us through adoption into a family, not by blood (unless you mean Christ's blood) but by invitation and Spirit.
GOD does the welcoming and inviting. In HOLY BAPTISM goes makes us sons and daughters in this new family with millions and billions of family members of all times and all places. Talk about a large family, wow!
GOD also forgives us our sins received in our birth (original sin) the sin of Adam, sin in which we were born, not actually committed.
HOLY BAPTISM is more than a 'dedication.' That would be the intention of a parent to dedicate. BAPTISM is not what WE do, it is what GOD does! As circumcision was the entry rite for Israel (Genesis 17) on the 8th day for sons of Abraham, so Baptism is appropriate for infants as their entry into this special God-human relationship.
A new life is to follow in the water of our baptism. If we are adults, we begin the transformation now, no need to wait or to delay the process. Likewise as a child, we grow into this knowledge of who we are in Christ Jesus.
We must decrease, Christ must increase into our lives. We are to develop the 'mind of Christ.' in us.
As this portion of our website we will post the baptisms of 2007. Please browse and enjoy our photos in 2007.
Blessings
Pastor Don
Luther's Small Catechism
PART FOUR
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
1
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not water only,
but it is water used together with God’s Word and by His command.
What is this word?
In Matthew 28 our Lord Jesus Christ says:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit.”
2
What benefits does God give in Baptism?
In Baptism God forgives sin,
delivers from death and the devil,
and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what He has promised.
What is God’s promise?
In Mark 16 our Lord Jesus Christ says:
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
3
How can water do such great things?
It is not water that does these things,
but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word.
Water by itself is only water,
but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water
which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul writes in Titus 3:
“He saved us … in virtue of His own mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit,
which He poured out upon us richly
through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that we might be justified by His grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
The saying is sure.”
4
What does Baptism mean for daily living?
It means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires,
should be drowned through daily repentance;
and that day after day a new self should arise
to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.
St. Paul writes in Romans 6:
“We were buried therefore with Him by Baptism into death,
so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life.”
Look up the baptism or baptisms of recent 'family' members now through Holy Baptism.
Drop any comments through email to PD, me.